Warning device for swimming pools



Dec. 11, 1956 T. T. RAICHEI.

WARNING DEVICE FOR SWIMMING POOLS Filed April 22, 1954 M I F 11v VEN TOR. 777500095 71 fi/cwfa Arraewzra United States Patent WARNING DEVICE FOR SWIMMING POOLS Theodore T. Raichel, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application April 22, 1954, Serial No. 424,876

7 Claims. (Cl. 340-213) My invention relates to warning devices for swimming pools, and included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a device of this class which is adapted to float on the surface of a swimming pool, when the pool is not in use, and set off an alarm should a child or animal fall therein.

Second, to provide a device of this class which is uniquely sensitive to the type of transient wave produced by a body falling into the pool as distinguished from the surface waves produced by wind or falling rain.

Third, to provide a device of this class which may be readily removed when it is desired to use the pool, and as readily installed without need for adjustment whenever the pool is left unattended.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a reduced plan view of my warning device as it would appear when floating in a swimming pool, ready for use; and v Figure 2 is an enlarged partial sectional, partial elevational view taken through 2-2 of Figure 1.

My warning device comprises a buoy structure 1, which includes a hollow conical body 2 having a flange 3 at its upper end and sealed across its upper end by an inner cover 4. A spacer tube 5 extends vertically through the body, terminating within the cover 4 and the lower apex end of the body. The lower apex end of the body is truncated and provided with an inwardly flanged aperture which centers the lower end of the spacer tube. A similar inwardly flanged aperture in the cover 4 centers the upper end of the spacer tube. Gaskets 6 are disposed between the extremities of the spacer tube 5.

Extending through the spacer tube 5 is a tension rod 7 which protrudes from the lower truncated end of the conical body and is screw threaded into a weight member 8. The weight member may be conical to form approximately a continuation of the conical body 2. The upper end of the tension rod 7 screw threads into a post 9.

An outer cover 10 fits over the inner cover 4 and is provided with a flange which fits over the flanged margin of the inner cover and is rolled to cover and clamp the edges of these flanges so as to seal the parts together. In addition, bolts 11 extend through the mating flanges of the covers and body if desired.

The upper extremity of the post 9 is joined to a hinged coupling 12 disposed on the outside of the outer cover 10. The coupling itself is conventional in construction, and defines a passageway therethrough so that one or more lead wires 13 may be passed through the coupling. The upper end of the post 9 is provided with a socket 14 having a lateral aperture so that the lead wires may be brought into the space between the inner cover 4 and outer cover 10.

The hinged coupling 12 is joined to a tube 15, which in turn is joined to a second coupling 16 also arranged to permit lead wires 13 to extend therethrough. Beyond the hinged coupling 16 there is provided a terminal fitting 17, which mechanically connects the hinged coupling 16 "ice to an alarm box 18 and electrically connects the lead wires 13 to an alarm device, not shown, contained within the alarm box.

A yoke member 19 is provided with a bifurcated end which is pivotally connected to the post 9 by a journal pin 20. The pivotal axis of the journal pin 20 is preferably at right angles to the pivotal axis of the couplings 12 and 16. Secured to the yoke 19 is a stem 21 which extends laterally through a slot 22 in the side of the outer cover 10. A float 23 is secured to the extremity of the stem 21.

The yoke 19 incorporates a terminal 24 which may be insulated therefrom and connected to one of the leads 13. The terminal 24 extends above and below the yoke 19 so that its lower end may engage a contact 25 which limits downward movement of the yoke 19, and the upper end of the terminal 24 may engage an adjustable contact screw 26 located in the outer cover 10. The contact 25 and contact screw 26 may be insulated from their respective covers or may be ground thereto, in which case the remaining lead wire is suitably grounded.

Operation of my warning device for swimming pools is as follows:

The alarm box 18 contains a battery and a suitable alarm device, such as a sound-producing mechanism, .operable upon closing of an electrical contact. It is preferable that a relay also be included so that the alarm device will be set into operation and continue to operate even though the circuit thereto is only momentarily closed.

The buoy structure 1 is placed in a swimming pool, outwardly from the edge thereof, determined by the length of the tube 15. The alarm box is disposed at the side of the pool. The linkage afforded by the hinged couplings 12 and 16 permits vertical movement of the buoy structure, and permits swinging or tilting of the buoy structure in the plane normal to the axes of the hinged couplings. The buoy structure 1 is restrained against tilting motion about an axis at right angles thereto, that is, the buoy structure is restrained against tilting movement about an axis normal to the stem 21.

The buoy structure 1 floats with the flange 3 of the conical body 2 substantially awash, and is relatively uninfluenced by superficial waves, but will raise and lower if a transient large wave should pass. The float 23 is quite buoyant and raises and lowers with the waves or ripples produced on the surface of the swimming pool. The amplitude of such waves as may be created by wind is not suflicient to raise or lower the float to the extent that the alarm is set off. However, should a person, or even a small child, or an animal fall into the pool, a transient wave is produced which is larger than the normal ripples produced by wind with the result that a circuit is closed by engagement of the terminal 24 with one of the contacts, usually the adjustable screw contact 26, and the alarm is set off. In this regard, it should be pointed out that the lower contact 25 is intended primarily to function should an attempt be made to lift the buoy structure from the water, as might be done should someone attempt to use the swimming pool surreptitiously.

The contents of the alarm box 18 may, for the purposes of this invention, be considered conventional. The alarm box, or its equivalent, may be a portable unit, such as illustrated, or be incorporated as a fixed accessory to the swimming pool. By adjustment of the screw contact 26, the degree of oscillation required to operate the alarm may be varied.

The type of wave produced by the impact of a body falling into the pool is one of relatively high amplitude with a comparatively short distance between crests. A distance between the buoy structure and the float is selected, approximately one-half the distance between succeeding waves produced by the impact of a falling body, so that the buoy structure is in the trough of one wave when the float is on the crest of the next.

Surface wind ripples are of much shorterdistance between crests so that they produce very little oscillation of the stem 21. Sometimes a high wind will produce a surge of water back and :forth across the pool; but the distance between crests of'such a surge is far greater than the spacing between the buoy structure and the float so that no appreciable oscillation of the stem 21 occurs.

(Consequently, While the alarm device can be depended upon to signal in the event a child or animal should fall into the pool, it will not be influenced by natural causes.

Having fully described my invention, itv is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A warning device for swimming pools, comprising: a buoy structure having an unsubmergedi upper end and a depending weighted end, said buoy structure tending to float relatively undisturbed on a body of water; a buoyant float relatively susceptible to surface disturbances on said body of Water; an arm pivotally connecting the unsubmerged end of said buoy and float; contact means operable on relative movement of said float and buoy; and an alarm means operatively associated with said contact means.

2. A warning device for swimming pools, comprising; a buoy structure having a depending weighted end' and tending to float relatively undisturbed on a body of water; a buoyant float relatively susceptible to surface disturbances on said body of water; an arm pivotally connecting said buoy and float; a second arm hinged at one end to said buoy structure and adapted to be hingedly connected to a fixed object at its other end to restrain said buoy to movement in a plane normal to said first arm; contact means operable on relative movement of said float and buoy; and an alarm means operatively associated with said contact means.

3. A warning device for swimming pools, comprising: a first buoyant member adapted to float in a swimming pool; a stabilizing arm adapted to be anchored at the side of a swimming pool to restrain said buoyant member to movement in a vertical plane; a second buoyant member; an arm pivotally connecting said buoyant members, to permit relative vertical movement; and an alarm means including contacts operable on predetermined relative movement of said buoyant members.

4. A warning device for swimming pools, comprising: a buoy structure including a. substantially sealed conical float structure weighted at its apex to float inverted with its base end substantially awash, a flange surrounding its base end, and an unsubmerged guard cap covering said base end; an arm extending laterally from and pivotal-1y connected to said buoy structure; a buoyant member carried at the extremity of said arm; said buoy structure having materially greater inertia and effective density than said buoyant member, whereby said buoy structure and buoyant member are diflerently attected by waves created in a swimming pool in which they are floated to cause movement of said arm; contact means operable on relative movement of said float and buoy; and an alarm means operatively associated with said contact means- 5. A warning device for swimming pools, comprising:

buoy structure including a substantially sealed conical float structure weighted at its apex to float inverted with its base end substantially awash, a flange surrounding its base end, and a guard cap: covering said base end; an arm extending laterally from and pivotally connected to said buoy structure; a buoyant member carried at the extremity of said arm; said buoy structure having materially greater inertia and effective density than said buoyant member, whereby said buoy structure and buoyant member are differently aflected by waves created in a swimming pool in which they are floated to cause movement of said arm; a: second arm hinged at one end to said buoy structure and adapted to be hingedly connected to a fixed object at its other end to restrain said buoy to movement in a plane normal to said first arm; contact means operable on relative movement of said float and buoy; and" an alarm means operatively associated with said contact means.

6. A warning device for swimming pools, comprising: first float of substantial mass and thereby tending to float relatively undisturbed on and projecting above the sunface of a swimming. pool; a second float of light mass and thereoy relatively susceptible to surface. disturbances on said body of water; an arm pivotally connecting said first and second floats; an alarm device; and: means operable on predetermined relative movement of. said first and second floats to actuate said alarm device.

7. A warning device for swimming; pools, comprising: a buoy of substantial. mass and thereby tending to float relatively undisturbed on the surface of a swimming pool; a float of light mass and thereby relatively susceptible to surface disturbances; a first arm hinged to said, buoy for movement about a predetermined axis, and secured References Cited in thefile of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fungo-Giera July- 10, 1917 Quist May 4, 1954 

